Frank Barone, M.D., FACS
Plastic Surgeon
Toledo, Ohio

Women face a lot of external pressures about their appearance. It is important to not only look a certain way but also to maintain their youth for as long as they can. Many women will turn to plastic surgery to achieve this.  We had an insightful conversation with Dr. Frank Barone in Toledo, Ohio about how plastic surgery started and what it means for individuals, particularly women, who seek his help.

At his office they specialize in personal and results-based approaches to skin and body wellness as well as optimal age management programs. Women may face various issues at times with their appearance and self confidence whether it be confronting breast cancer and mastectomy reconstruction, post menopausal procedures to regain self-seteem, or just looking to improve their overall quality of life. Dr Barone offers comprehensive age-management aesthetic procedures that can improve overall health and well being thru natural enhancement of attractive and youthful features.

Women facing a mastectomy may also be facing tremendous emotional stress.  This can be the cause of a loss of self-esteem even though it is a procedure that is vital to their survival. Dr. Barone understands how breast reconstruction surgery is important for many women in this situation.  If it can help regain their self-esteem, it can very well lead to an improved quality of life.  That is the aim of Dr. Barone.

Dr. Barone discussed how exposure to sun, or more accurately too much exposure, can affect the skin and aging.  Our cells are only programmed to grow or deteriorate and too much sun triggers them to deteriorate much faster. Regular exfoliation of the skin to remove dead cells and stimulate growth, use of topical antioxidants and an effective broad spectrum sunscreen can reduce sun damage and skin cancer, minimize the signs of aging and restore skin health.

An active lifestyle is also very important.  Our bodies have developed through evolution and part of that has always been movement.  A sedentary lifestyle tells the cells to slow down and deterioration is more prevalent.  Diet is also an important component to maintaining healthy, youthful skin.

Another hot button issue for women when they reach their midlife is, of course, menopause.  Dr. Barone urges women to understand that this is just a phase in life. Increasing physical activity and living a healthy lifestyle can alter any weight gain or changes in physical appearance.  He has patients in their 60’s and 70’s that are near or better physical shape then when they were younger.  Any procedure that he may perform is a compliment to what his patients are already doing for themselves.

To sum up his thoughts, Dr. Barone quoted William Faulkner in saying, “Women don’t just survive, they prevail.”